Wheel.



PATENTED JULY 28, 1903.

C. MILLER.

WHEEL.

APPLIOATION FILED 00T. s. 1900.

N0 MODEL.

'ma Nonms Przns co, Fumo-Limo.. wAsnmcfoN. n. c

Patented July 28, 190,3.

PATENT OFFICE.`

CONRAD MILLER, OF LEADVILLE, COLORADO.

WHEEL.

SPECIFICATIO forming part of Letters Patent No. 734,731, dated July 28,1903.

` Application ledOctoher 3, 1900. Serial No. 31.888. (No model.)

To all whom. it maar; con/cern.-

Beit known that I, CONRAD MILLER, a citizen of the United States,residing at Leadville, in the county of Lake and `State of Colorrado,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Vtfheels;` and I dohereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact descriptionof the invention, Asuch as will enable others skilled in the art towhich it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to improvements in wheels, and more particularyrelates to wheels of the all-metal type.

The object of the present invention is toA provide an improved form ofwheel in which the number of parts shall be reduced to a minimum andwhich parts are so related that when properly assembled and adjusted awheel of maximum strength and one capable of resisting great strain isproduced.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a wheel thepartsof which may be readily removed when injured and re` placed by newparts without disturbing the other portions of the wheel, therebyrender-` tion, partlybroken away, of a wheel constructed in accordancewith the present invention. Figf lis a Vertical transverseseetional Viewthereof. sectional View of the hub. Fig. 4 is`a side elevation of one ofthe adj usting-rings. Fig.

`5 is a side elevation of one of the spokes.

Fig.` 6 is a similar view of one of the tie-rods. Fig. 7 is a transversesectional view of the felly. S is a similar view of the bindingringcarried thereby. Fig. 9 is also a transverse sectional View of anotherform of felly.

Referring to the drawings, and more, par- 5o ticularly to theform oftheinvention shown in Figs. l to 9,the numeral 1 designates the Fig. Bris atransverse` hub of the herein-described wlieel,which hub is preferably:formed of steel and is tubular, as shown. It will be observed, however,that the outer end of the hub is of less diameter than the inner endthereof, said ends being machined for a purpose to be presen tlystated.The hub l at a point intermediate its ends is provided with an annularprojection 2, in which projection is formed a series of radial sockets3, designed to receive the inner ends of a series of tubular spokes 4,and the outer ends of said spokes are attened, so that their sidesconverge, as clearly shown in Fig. 2,which ends abut against a felly 5.The felly 5 is Y-shaped in cross-section and is `brent and weldedtogether, so as to form a solid ring in order to surround the spokest,and it will be observed that the cross-sectional area of said fellyincludes a verticallyextending web to which are connectedoutwardly-extending divergent webs.

Arranged at the sides of each spoke are tierods 6, the ends of which areenlarged and perforated, as at 7, and the outer ends of said rods areriveted or otherwise suitably secured to the extremities of the spokestand the vertically-extending web of the felly 5, and in this manner saidtie-rods are also connected to a pair of adjusting-rings 8, one of whichis arranged at each side of the projection 2 and slidably mounted on theadjacent portion of the hub l. Each of the rings 8 is provided with aseries of radially-arranged ears 9, to each of which one ot' thetie-.rods 6 observed that asgeachring is slid along the hub l all of`the tie-rods follow bodilysuch movement, and for eecting such slidingmovement of the adjusting-rings 8 the same are each provided with aseries of adjusting set-screws 10, the heads of which bear against theannular projection 2, while their Shanks are tted within the rings 8.While this latter arrangement is preferable, it is obvious that the samemay be changed, and, if desired, the heads of the screws 10 4may be atthe outside of the rings. `Each of the setscrews 10 carries a jam-nut11, by means of which said screws when adjusted to their desiredpositions may be held therein, and by means of these nuts it will beseen that the fis connected, and by reason of this it will be IOO.screws 10 are prevented rotating, and displacement oftheadjusting-rings 8 from the positions to which they have been moved islikewise prevented. The tie-rods 6 are also provided attheir inner` endswith outwardlyprojecting lips 6', which lips take under shoulders formedon the inner sides of the ears 9. Through these lips the strength of thefastenings at the inner ends of the tie-rods is greatly increased.,

Surrounding the exterior of the felly 5 is a binding-ring l2, which ringis provided at its edges with locking-ribs 13, and it will be 0bservedthat the flared webs of the-felly 5 are angular cut in order to fitbetween the ribs 13 when the ring 12 is placed thereon.. By means ofthis construction and the employment of the ring 12 the flared webs ofthe felly are prevented spreading,'and by forming the felly of Y shapeit is obvious that sand and dirt will not be lifted thereby, as in theordinary construction of flat felly. The binding-ring is shrunk upon thefelly 5, and surrounding said bindingring is the tire proper, 14, whichis also shrunk thereon. While the construction of felly, binding-ring,and tire as shown in Fig. 2 is preferred, the same is not essential,and, if desired, the form shown in Fig. 9 may be substituted therefor,and by :referring to this figure it will be observed that theconstruction of the felly in the main is the saine as in Fig. 2 orY-shaped, but the binding-ring l2 is dispensed with, and in lieu thereofa vertical web 15is formed integral with the felly 5 and arrangedbetween the flared webs thereof, the tire 14 in this instance beingshrunk directly upon the felly 5, and the web 15 serving to preventspreading of the fiared webs of said felly.

A bushing 16, provided with a sand-band 17, is arranged within the boreof the hub 1, a space 18V being left between said bushing and said hub,which is adapted to receive Babbitt metal or the like for locking theseparts together; but in addition thereto the bushing 16 is provided withlongitudinal ribs 19, which fit within corresponding grooves 20, formedin the inner faces of the hub 1.

, Mounted upon the outer end of the bushing 16 is a pair oflocking-rings 21 for preventing longitudinal displacement of the bushingfrom the hub. These rings are specifically described in my pendingapplication, Serial No. 17,051, and in view of this fact it is notdeemed essential to refer to their detail construction, except to pointout the fact that whereas in the pending application the locking-ringsare secured together by means of screws, in this case such screws aredispensed with and in lieu thereof said rings are provided with lips 22,which lips are designed to be enveloped by the Babbitt metal beforereferred to, which is caused to lie flush with the outer end of thebushing, whereby endwise movement of the ringsis prevented, and throughthe medium of ribs 23, which are also designed to be enveloped by theBabbitt metal, rotation of said rings is likewise prevented. A sand-band24 iscarried by the hub 1 at its outer end.

It will be here observed that the spokes 4 are dished, as clearly shownin Fig. 2, and in assembling the parts of the wheel the same arearranged in the relation shown in Fig. 2. After such assemblage theinner tie-rods 6 are forced outwardly by adjusting the setscrews 10,controlling the same, and by such adjustment the adjusting-ring S, towhich said rods are connected, is slid along thehub 1. When the spokes 4have become sufficiently tight, the tie-rods at the outside of the wheelare likewise moved outwardly through the medium of the set-screwscontrolling their movements, and when these rods have been moved to thedesired extent the spokes 4c will have become rigidly braced, and thuscapable of resisting blows or pressure incident to strain upon the same.When the tierods 6 have become so positioned, the jamnuts 11 aretightened upon their respective screws, and thus said screws are held inlocked position.

Vhile the form of the invention shown and described is what is believedto be a preferable embodiment thereof, it will be understood that thesame is susceptible of various changes in the form, proportion, andminor details of construction, and the right is therefore reserved tomodify or Vary the invention as falls within the spirit and scopethereof.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new, and desiredto be secured by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a wheel, the combination with the hub provided at a pointintermediate its ends with an outwardly-extending annular projectionhaving a series of radial sockets, of a series of spokes having theirinner ends tted in said sockets, a felly surrounding the outer ends ofsaid spokes, tie-rods connected to said felly, adj usting-rings slidablymounted upon said hub and arranged at the sides of said annularprojection and to which the inner ends of said tie-rods are connected,and adjusting-screws carried by said rings and bearing against saidannular projection, whereby said rings are moved relatively to saidprojection when said screws are rotated.

2. In a wheel, the combination with the hub provided at a pointintermediate its ends with an outwardly-'extending annular projectionhaving a series of radial sockets, of a series of spokes having theirinner ends fitted in said sockets, a felly surrounding the outer ends ofsaid spokes, tie-rods connected to said felly, adjusting-rings slidablymounted upon said hub and arranged at the sides of said annularprojection, said rings having radial ears to which said tie-rods areconnected, and adjusting-screws carried by said rings and bearingagainst said annular projection, whereby said rings are moved relativelyto said projection when said screws arerotated.

IOO

IIO

3. In awheel, the combination with the hub provided at a pointintermediate its ends with an outwardly-extending..annular projectionhaving a series of radial sockets, of a series of spokes having theirinner ends fitted in said sockets and their outer ends iiattened,whereby the sides of said outer ends converge, a felly surrounding theouter ends of said spokes, tie-rods having their ends iiattened andembracing said spokes, the outer ends of said tie-rods being connectedto said felly, adjusting-rings slidably mounted upon said hub andarranged at the sides of said annular projection and to which the innerends of said tie-rods are connected, and adjustingscrews carried by saidrings and bearing against said annular projection, whereby said ringsare moved relatively to said projection when said screws are rotated..

4. In a wheel, the combination with the hub provided at apointintermediate its ends with an outwardly-extending annular projectionhaving a series of radial sockets, of a series of spokes having theirinner ends fitted in said sockets, a felly surrounding the outer ends ofsaid spokes and including in its crosssectional areaa'vertically-extending web to which are connected outwardly-extendingdivergent Webs, tie-rods connected to the vertically-extending web ofsaid felly and embracing said spokes, adj usting-rings slidably mountedupon said hub and arranged at the sides of said annular projection andto which the inner ends of said tie-rods are connected, andadjusting-screws carried by said rings and bearing against said annularprojection, whereby said rings are moved relatively to said projectionwhen said screws are rotated.

5. In a wheel,the combination with the hub, and a felly thecross-sectional area of which includes a vertically-extending Web towhich are connected outwardly-extending divergent Webs, of a series oftie-rods connected to the vertically-extending web of said telly, anadjusting-ring slidably mounted upon said hub and to which said tie-rodsare suitably connected, set-screws for operating said adjusting-ring forregulating the tension of the tierods, and jam-nuts carried by saidset-screws for locking the latter against rotation.

6. In a wheel,the combination with the hub, of a bushing arrangedtherein and provided at one of its ends with a sand-band, and a seriesof locking-rings mounted upon the other end of said bushing and providedwith lips and ribs projecting therefrom, and a suitable sealing mediumarranged between the hub and the bushing and adapted to coact with thelips and ribs of said rings for retaining the latter upon the bushing.

In testimony whereof I ax my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

CONRAD MILLER.

Witnesses:

HENRY R. PENDERY, JOHN LAW.

